Crist portrait sold on eBay for $7,700

Party spokeswoman Katie Betta says the buyer was a registered Florida Republican who wanted to remain anonymous after paying $7,700 on eBay. Party officials say they paid $7,500 for the Crist portrait and a painting of former Republican Party of Florida Chairman James A. Greer.

In a letter to members, the party sought donations to help "move forward from the sordid legacy of Charlie Crist and Jim Greer," the former party chairman.

Crist dropped out of an August Republican primary against conservative favorite Marco Rubio after polls showed him trailing badly. Instead, he'll run with no party affiliation in a three-way race, likely against Rubio and Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek.

May 12, 2010 — Crist formalized his break with the Republican party earlier today by changing his party affiliation to NPA -- no party affiliation